AWE in atomic waste probe

The European Commission (EC) has told the Ministry of Defence (MoD) it is

breaking European safety law by not

reporting the discharges of nuclear

waste at AWE Aldermaston.

The Government must now change its policy or risk prosecution by the EC in the European Court of Justice.

The ruling followed a legal challenge by Green MEP for the South East, Dr Caroline Lucas, who reported the MoD over the discharges.

She told the Evening Post: "I am delighted the commission has been minded to uphold the Green complaint and hold the Government to account for the appalling contempt with which it clearly holds both international law and public health."

Environmental campaigners had earlier lost a legal battle on the issue in the UK, when courts backed the MoD, but Dr Lucus then took the complaint, which was supported by Reading and Slough Borough Councils as well as environmental groups, to the EC.

The commission reversed the UK court's decision and will now send what is called a "reasoned opinion" (official notice that it believes the MoD is breaking safety laws) to the government, which must then choose to abide by the ruling or defend itself in the Court of Justice.

Throughout the wrangle the MoD has argued it does not have to report the discharges because the Eurotom Treaty - the EU rules governing nuclear safety - only cover civil nuclear sites.

The Evening Post called AWE plc at Aldermaston and was passed to the MoD for response.

A spokesman said the Government did not acknowledge that the Euratom Treaty covered defence establishments and added AWE Aldermaston complies with stringent UK regulations and, where appropriate, international law.

He said: "This is a technicality about reporting the discharges. As I understand it, the discharges all fall well within any limits set by the EC." to uphold the Green complaint and hold the Government to account for the appalling contempt with which it clearly holds both international law and public health."

Environmental campaigners had earlier lost a legal battle on the issue in the UK when courts backed the MoD, but Dr Lucas then took the complaint, which was supported by Reading and Slough borough councils, as well as environmental groups, to the EC.

The commission reversed the UK court's decision and will now send what is called a "reasoned opinion" (official notice that it believes the MoD is breaking safety laws) to the Government, which must then choose to abide by the ruling or defend itself in the Court of Justice.

Throughout the wrangle the MoD has argued it does not have to report the discharges because the Eurotom Treaty - the EU rules governing nuclear safety - only cover civil nuclear sites.

The Evening Post called AWE Plc at Aldermaston and was passed to the MoD for a response.

A spokesman said the Government did not acknowledge that the Euratom Treaty covered defence establishments and added AWE Aldermaston complies with stringent UK regulations and, where appropriate, international law.

He said: "This is a technicality about reporting the discharges.

"As I understand it, the discharges all fall well within any limits set by the EC."